Disappearance of women and girls is a nation-wide issue and not confined to Andhra Pradesh alone. So, it is unfair on the part of opposition to single out Andhra Pradesh and blame it on the police as well as the village volunteers for the missing of women.
This was stated by Andhra Pradesh Mahila Commission chairperson Vasireddy Padma on Thursday.
She said there were more than 10 states in the country, which had recorded more number of missing women and girls, compared to Andhra Pradesh between 2019 and 2021.
“However, in tracing the missing women and girls, Andhra Pradesh stands in the second position. More than 78 percent of the missing women and girls were traced and sent back to their respective homes,” Padma said.
She regretted that such an unfortunate nation-wide issue was being linked to volunteers’ system.
“The volunteers treat womenfolk as queens, as they take the benefits of the government welfare schemes to their door steps. I request the opposition leaders to stop spitting venom on them at least now,” the women’s commission chairperson said.
Speaking to reporters at Kadapa, Director General of Police (DGP) K V Rajendranath Reddy also said as per the records available with the state government, only around 26,000 girls and women were reported missing between 2019 and 2021.
“Of them, 23,354 women and girls were traced and were returned to their respective families. Another 2,700 are yet to be traced. We are on the job of finding their whereabouts,” he said.
The DGP said there were various reasons for the missing of women and girls, including socio-economic reasons that compel them to leave their homes.
“We need to work out a comprehensive strategy to address the underlying issues and safeguard vulnerable people,” he said.